Mayor pulls the chain on row over town’s public toilets

North Yorkshire Council had agreed to transfer the conveniences in Malton to the town council as part of what it has dubbed “double devolution”.

However, the deal had been described as a “busted flush” after the town council opted to introduce a 40p charge per use of the Market Place facilities.

The deal would have seen the town council receive a one-off grant of £57,000 from the authority to pay for a refurbishment of the facilities.

It would have been the first transfer to a smaller town or parish council since the unitary authority was launched in 2023.

However, concerns from the public over charges prompted the launch of a “free to pee” campaign by Cllr Keane Duncan, who represents the neighbouring town of Norton on North Yorkshire Council, with more than 2,600 people signing a petition against the proposal.

Speaking to the Gazette & Herald, Mayor of Malton Cllr Lindsay Burr said most town councillors had agreed not to respond to Cllr Duncan’s negative social media campaign.

She said: “Councillors thought this kind of publicity could turn into a slanging match, and this was not good for the town, but the accusations have become so unpalatable, a response is now given.

“Cllr Duncan’s headline grabbing news is bizarre, as no deal has ever been signed. Malton Town Council defiantly refutes the words U-turn saying, there is nothing to U-turn on.

“North Yorkshire Council, own, run, repair and clean the toilets and will continue to do so. Cllr Duncan really needs to get on top of his brief, his campaign is a blatant political headline grabbing news story. The Executive at North Yorkshire, of which Cllr Duncan was a member at the time, charge at over 30 fee-paying toilets in North Yorkshire. This is blatant hypocrisy.

“Consultations were carried out extensively with the people who were using the toilets, but Malton Town Council is always willing to engage in new consultation processes and will continue to listen to residents.

“I am honoured to be the new mayor of Malton, we are a great town, however over the last four weeks Malton’s reputation as a great place, has been trashed by constant negative headlines.

Cllr Burr added: “Some facts must be explained clearly again. North Yorkshire Council own both Malton and Norton toilets and always have done. All three toilets are a disgrace. One fact is Malton Town Council would have liked to improve the toilets and run them, but the deal was not good enough from North Yorkshire Council, especially when other town councils were getting much more money than us. We collectively would not and will not sign a bad deal.

“At last Wednesday’s Malton Town Council meeting all councillors agreed not to move forward with the current deal on offer from North Yorkshire, it just is not good enough.”

However, Cllr Duncan has hailed a major victory for “people power” following his Free to Pee petition

“The U-turn by the town council is a fantastic result and a clear demonstration of what people power can achieve,” said Cllr Duncan.

“However, it is regrettable that this plan was supported by Mayor Burr and Malton Town Council in the first place.

“Malton was being singled out unfairly, and residents rightly saw this as unjust.

“They were particularly aggrieved that this plan was agreed with no publicity or proper public involvement.

“The situation was inflamed by the lack of response from the Mayor or anyone connected to the town council for over month. The public deserved an explanation, not silence.

“I want to thank every single person who signed the petition, supported the campaign, and made their voices heard.

“My priority now is to push for much-needed investment from North Yorkshire Council to improve our toilets.”

Cllr Duncan warned that the episode has exposed serious flaws in the so-called “double devolution” of community facilities to town and parish councils by North Yorkshire Council.

He said: “This was the first asset North Yorkshire Council agreed to devolve under its localism drive—and it has ended in chaos.

“The secrecy, public backlash, and ultimate U-turn have left the double devolution in a state of disarray.

“I am calling for urgent reforms, including a requirement for proper public consultation, before any future handover deals are agreed.

“Lessons can be learned to ensure transparency, accountability, and genuine community involvement.”